The Dancing Bears of India: Moving Toward Freedom

A thin shaggy bear tethered to a rope that is laced through the tissue of his nose waves his paws and moves spasmodically on his hind legs before an audience.

It should seem unlikely that this sad sight could be accepted as enjoyable entertainment by anyone. But failures of human empathy are omnipresent, and many people are unable to understand that animals do not enjoy acting like humans—that, in fact, they have to be forced to do so, usually through cruel means. Like so many other kinds of animal performance, making bears “dance” has a long history stretching back to ancient times. Today the practice takes place mostly in countries of the Indian subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. [7/1/11: see update at the end of this article. –Ed.] Almost invariably the bears are exploited by very poor people who have few economic options, so initiatives to save the dancing bears must encompass programs to improve the prospects of their human owners.

Sloth bears in the wild

The bears used in this trade are mostly sloth bears, though some Asiatic black bears are also used. The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is a nocturnal forest dweller native to the subcontinent, where some 8,000 exist in the wild. Another 1,000 or so (estimates vary from 500 to 2,000) are held in captivity and used as performers. Sloth bears are one of the smaller bear species, about 30 inches tall at the shoulder and some 5 feet long. They weigh on average 200 to 250 pounds. They have a long shaggy black coat with whitish or yellowish hair on the snout and on the chest, where it forms a distinctive crescent. Their primary diet consists of ants and termites, supplemented by honey, fruit, grains, and small vertebrates. In the wild a sloth bear can live more than 20 years. In captivity, however, a dancing bear rarely lives past the age of 7 or 8.

“I was really upset about it. How much pain did that animal have to go through to learn such unnatural stunts?” asked a witness who unexpectedly came upon the performance of a bear dancing, clapping, and rolling over for spectators at a market near Seville. The question is astute. In fact, the behavior that audiences are encouraged to interpret as “dancing” is the product of aversive training. The Roma training method involved greasing the bears’ paws and having them stand on hot plates while music played; the bears hopped on the plates to avoid the burning pain, which became associated in their minds with the sound of the music. Eventually, just hearing the music caused the bears to repeat this “dancing” movement.

The dancing bears of India are primarily under the control of a nomadic people known as the Kalandar (or Qalandar), who come from a line of tribesmen who once entertained northern India’s Mughal emperors with trained-animal acts. Thus, working with animals for entertainment is the traditional livelihood of the tribe, whose people also have sidelines selling animal parts as medicines (see the Advocacy for Animals article) and good-luck charms.

The Kalandar of India

The Kalandar are recognized by the Indian government as an economically deprived tribe, although efforts to help them have been few. Investigators from international animal-welfare organizations are working with them and are helping them obtain better economic conditions. Programs have been established by cooperating national and international organizations—such as the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), Wildlife SOS, World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), and International Animal Rescue—that are aimed at helping the bears and helping the Kalandar. They seek to persuade the people that a livelihood that uses animals for entertainment is not sustainable. For example, the acquisition of a bear is a source of pride and prestige, but bears are expensive and the mortality rate is high, especially in the first three years of a bear’s life.

Efforts to stop the exploitation of bears

Bear dancing was outlawed by the Indian government in 1972. The practice has continued, however, partly because the Kalandar had no alternative and also because, until the early 21st century, there was no place to put confiscated bears; enforcement was therefore somewhat pointless. Special licenses were granted to the Kalandar so they could continue, while a bear sanctuary at Agra was created by the WSPA and Wildlife SOS.

Although it is difficult to abandon long-held cultural and economic practices, the Kalandar have been willing to do so, provided that they are given the help they need to make a new start. In exchange for the bears, the Kalandar are given job training and equipment for alternative occupations, such as welding and the manufacture of useful products such as soap and incense. Some run small stalls and shops.

The first group of some two dozen rescued bears went to the Agra sanctuary in 2003. Since then more than 350 bears have gone to that facility and two others—one in Bannerghatta, near Bangalore, and another in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh state. The sanctuaries are run by Wildlife SOS; other animal-welfare organizations contribute funding. The rescued bears are first quarantined and given medical care. Once they are healthy enough to undergo the surgery, the ropes are removed from their noses—which are usually badly infected and bleeding. The sanctuaries provide environmental stimulation as well, including dens and swimming pools in which to cool off.

Rescues and sanctuaries

The rescued bears are socialized to get along together in a more natural bearlike existence, but most of them cannot be released into the wild and must depend on human care. Having lived long in human company, they would not know how to survive on their own. However, a special case occurred in April 2007, when authorities in Monghyr district, Bihar state, confiscated a group of four-month-old orphaned bear cubs from poachers who were planning to sell them to Kalandar. The five cubs had already had their teeth removed, and their muzzles had been pierced in preparation for the insertion of ropes. Although they had lost their mothers and had not benefited from normal bear-mother training, the cubs were still young enough to have retained some natural instincts and thus were candidates for reintroduction into the wild.

After providing the cubs with dental and veterinary care, officials undertook to give the bears lessons in being wild. They helped them climb trees, dig for termites, and make dens. Officials of the program—a cooperative effort of the WSPA, the WTI, and the Bihar Forest Department—reported in July that the cubs were regaining their natural instincts and engaging in normal sloth-bear behavior. It was expected that they would soon have no need for human-provided food and could be released into a forest range in a protected area among a wild population of sloth bears.

When dancing bears are saved from indentured servitude to regain their health and freedom, both the bears and their rescuers experience great relief. Said WTI program officer Arjun Nayer, “For us the happiest moment was cutting off the restrictive nose ropes and muzzles. The bears found themselves ‘free’ for the first time to be themselves, not performers, not jokers to be derided and give amusement to people, but just be bears.”

UPDATE: July 1, 2011: Advocacy for Animals has learned that in late December 2009, Wildlife SOS reported that what it believed was one of India’s last—if not the very last—dancing bears had been surrendered to the Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre near Bangalore. Visit Wildlife SOS’s page to read about the event and to get an update on improvements in the lives of the Kalandar people.

Further, a commenter has made the claim that there are no dancing bears in Sri Lanka. Our research indicated otherwise at the time of the article was published, almost 4 years prior, but Advocacy for Animals would like to note that the objection has been made. Further research at this time has shown that the claim appears to be correct.

Books We Like

Journalist and novelist Brian Payton traveled around the world to China, Cambodia, Italy, India, and elsewhere to see the eight remaining species of bear in their habitats. Most of these species are threatened or endangered worldwide, and a major accelerant of their demise is, unsurprisingly, human activity, including poaching and habitat destruction. Payton—inspired by a dream in which he was teaching a spectacle-wearing bear (as distinct from the spectacled bear of the Andes) to read—felt compelled to investigate these animals who have figured so largely in human mythology and experience. His trips brought him encounters with the sad and exploited bears held captive by the bear-gall trade in China; the black bears of Colorado, revered by Native Americans and threatened by trophy hunters; the beloved polar bears of Canada; and more. Shadow of the Bear tells of his adventures across the globe, and as such stands as both a travel book and an exploration of human relationships with these much-appreciated and yet much-abused animals.

60 Replies to “The Dancing Bears of India: Moving Toward Freedom”

I wish to clarify on a few facts in your write up: Wildlife SOS is the only Indian Organisation that runs 4 Permanent bear rescue centres and one transit facility in India in collaboration with state Forest Departments. Wildlife SOS has rescued 421 dancing bears of the streets in association with its International Partners (namely International Animal Rescue UK, Free the Bears Australia, Humane Society International-Australia and One Voice Association-France).
So we would be very grateful if you could also mention a link to the Donation Page on Wildlife SOS’s website as we HAVE already rescued OVER 420 bears from lives as ‘dancing bears’ and already run 5 bear rescue facilities to provide life-long care and rehabilitation to these suffereing animals.

Hope you will acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of Wildlife SOS in doing the majority of the work in clearing India of this horrendous dancing bear trade.
Thank you.Vasudha

If people want to support the hands-on rescue of the dancing bears and their long-term care in sanctuaries in India, they should donate to Wildlife SOS (www.wildlifesos.org) and International Animal Rescue (www.iar.org.uk) – the two groups at the forefront of ‘free the bears’ campaign.

Intitutions and asociations should have programs to insentive participation in rescue programs. The more we participate in campaings of rescuing and actually feel ownership for a brave, compassionate actions; the more we will understand that nature is for us to support each other (all alive species) not to take advantage and justify pain and torture for money and temporary power. There is never a violent solution for anything. Poverty and ignorance can’t be used as excuse.

Of all the so called “savages” in the world, we are the worst kind. Humans are the most vicious and disgusting species to ever live on this planet and in my opinion the biggest mistake evolution ever made. With our intelligence we should respect these fascinating animals by observing and studying them in their natural enviornments, appreciating thier beauty and giving them the opportunity to flurish in population instead of caturing them and using them for cheap entertainment. I am ashamed to be part of a species that destroys the lives of other animals. This barbarity needs to stop.

i agree with you, its disgusting what ppl are willing to do at the expense of these poor animals life. as soon as i saw the pictures although i am aware that this has gone on and with many animal species makes me cringe my heart drops and i get so *issed off i could go wack the damn trainers ppl involved with such cruelty. im glad that some ppl are willing to take on these issues and make life better for the animals and make us aware of what is going on around us. excellent write up and keep the faith

I agree so much with what has already been written here. Jessie-Anne’s comments say it all too well. It appears that the species with the most intelligence that is us, humans, mainly uses that blessing for purposes of selfishness and greed.

India is a very rich country and it’s people should be well cared for through it’s natural resources. Instead corruption prevents people being treated fairly. Because of corruption there are severely poor people. The mistreatment of animals must not pay for human failings anywhere on this planet.

The international community must not allow animals in any parts of the world to suffer.

I regularly donate to the Intenational Animal Rescue charity and am pleased to assist in the excellent work they do with animals who have been mistreated in the most unbelievable ways possible in various parts of the world.

Anyone who can help financialy should make contact and assist in stopping unbelievable torture that humans inflict on our fellow creatures on this earth.

I believe what these people are doing is wrong. It is not fair for an animal to be treated this way! It makes me sick knowing people get enjoyment from this! These people ae sick and should be punished for being so cruel. Please, please, try to stop this horrible thing that unfortunately people get enjoyment out of. I’m very concerned that the population of bears will go down because of this cruel thing.

In the interest of presenting an accurate face to this article, I would like to ask how many people commenting here have really read it. I ask because the article is in fact about the help that the dancing bears of India are getting from various people and organizations.

We tried to present the story in a way that makes it clear why people would exploit animals in this way. It’s not because they are sick or immoral; it’s because they are very, very poor and have had no other way to make money. The people who are helping the bears are also helping the people to find other ways of supporting themselves. It’s not really right to sit back and condemn people in other countries, who live in poverty most of us cannot imagine, for the things they do to stay alive. What is productive is to help those people understand that they are hurting the animals and being very unfair to them, and to help them so they don’t do this anymore.

Anna & Nicola, could you at least try not to be racist? They’re a poor nomadic people’s in India, not all of India for one thing and definitely not “Pacci’s” as they aren’t in Pakistan. Don’t be ignorant.

It’s really sad to see these bears with the ropes in their noses. The worst part might be that tourists are coming and being entertained by this practice, only encouraging it.

I went to Wildlife SOS and saw eight more bears had been rescued recently. 🙂

Rob, thanks for the clarification, and our apologies for not having caught that. There are so many racist terms in use in this world, and when they’re *misspelled* and inappropriately capitalized to boot, it’s probably understandable that one could slip through.

To our readers: Racist name-calling is not welcome on this blog. And before posting, please examine your words for statements to the effect that people do what they do because of where they’re from or what ethnic group they belong to, statements that also show prejudice.

The expression of such sentiments is what prompted our question as to whether people had actually read the article. We explained what is going on with the “dancing bear” people, and anyone who had paid attention to the article should have known it. See comment 12 above.

i wonder how people would feel if the bears had ravenge on them and started putting rings in their nose and forcing them to dance its so rude how people treat animals like this i hope they wont get exinct in the future

It’s down to both education and poverty, these issues must be tackled first before this disgusting behaviour is stopped.

This paragraph makes my blood boil:

The bears are poached from the wild as cubs, an act that often necessitates killing the mother first. Some cubs, traumatized, die of shock. Others succumb to neglect or dehydration. Survivors are sold to trainers, who use sticks and physical threats to teach the orphaned cubs to stand, move on their hind legs, and perform other tricks. The cubsâ€™ teeth are often knocked out or broken for the safety of humans; their nails are clipped short or removed (both of which are painful to bears); and a hot poker or piece of metal is run through the snout or lip to make a permanent hole through which a rope is anchored to control the bear. All of this is done without anesthesia. The trainers make the bears move by pulling on the rope, which causes great pain, and beating the bears if they do not obey

The tourists who witness the dancing bears should be outraged and vocally express their outrage. Dancing bears are brutalized to entertain tourists who will give money. If there is no money made, there is no longer any reason to own a bear. Thank you IAR for your involvement in saving these bears! I have made a personal pledge of $1.00 per bear saved. I know I am behind in my payment, but I had to help out the orangutans in their current emergency situation.

These animals are being treated wrong,and i really think we should do something about this. I think that animals are very special,and should not be treated cruelly. how would humans like it if they did that to us?

This is HORRIBLE!!! We need to do something to stop this! i never ever would want that to happen to me, treat others how you would want to be treated, others mean EVERY ONE, AND THING! it seems like bears have had horrible pasts. people kill them for sport, we got rid of all the grizzlys 🙁 people just don’t respect these Majestic animals for what they are!

I’m glad to hear that these bears and people are getting help. It’s easy to condemn these people for what they’re doing but it’s what they were taught.By showing them how it is harmful, saving the bears and teaching thes people new ways to sustain themselves, Wildlife SOS and the other mentioned organizations are doing a great thing.

Those who are so quick to condemn the bear trainers, don’t be so quick to judge when you have so much good fortune (I mean obviously if you are one here you have a computer! many people in the world do not even have electricity). When people are poor they will do “immoral” things for money. It’s hard to empathize with another creature when you yourself feel unwanted by society. This is not to say that what they are doing is right. In fact it /is/ pretty horrific. However it’s just another symptom of social systems that devalue certain members of society and where those with the most resources do nothing to help those who have less.

This is to dispicable to put into words. I hope to catch peoples attention on how cruel and disrespectful this is. I don’t know how people can do this for a job. People have done charity work to attempt stopping this. However, they are a long way off!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But with help of those who actually HAVE hearts good will over powr. I may be a job but who says it has to resource to animal cruelty… NOBODY! It is 100% true; money is the root of most evil!

To all, who over 4 years have left messages on this article: yes, it is heart-breaking, and yes, one feels angry that these animals suffer at the hand of human beings. Let’s not forget, however, before we cast the first stone, that us goodie-goodies in the west have animals suffering, being abused and dying horrible deaths in industrial farms, fur factories, research labs, pet shops, kennels, puppy farms etc, and we are loaded, we are not starving. So who’s to blame? Be very careful who you call cruel. Vivisection is the ultimate aberration, and it happens in Europe, your neighbour may be a lab researcher at it right now, and your wife probably uses make-up tested by him. Do some research, it is frightening.
Thank you to all who pointed out this and more in the comments above, we need to think before we judge others.

Good point, Samuela. We all have our blind spots, and it’s good to be reminded of them. This is in no way meant to detract from the substance of your comment, but let’s also look at the language you chose as another example: “your wife”—not all readers are men (and not every woman is a wife). In addition, men use plenty of products that are tested on animals: skin creams, shaving lotions, deodorants, shampoos, medicines, supplements, etc. The person using animal-tested cosmetics could be any reader. Second, a lot of people in the West are in fact not “loaded” and are in fact hungry.

We all make a lot of assumptions in formulating and expressing our opinions, and it’s healthy to challenge them.

Omg! […] u !! im sorry for false language. But wtf man thats so sad! ur LOSERS.Would yu like it if a bunch of people came to yu took yu from the damn wild and made u dance with a rope in your nose.?? NO! didnt think so. Bytches and ik Samuela is rght but this freakin cruel!

We got that information from one of the organizations working against bear-dancing in South Asia that are cited in the article; if the fact is incorrect, is it possible that it’s just out of date? This article was published nearly 4 years ago, after all.

dude.. wtf are you kidding me.. if i had seen this in real life i would show you how us americans take care of business.. this is wrong.. i’m a bear hunter.. and this pic pissed me the […] off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you all should be on that cable… free the bears..

Man some of you make me sick. It is wrong how the bears are being treated but some of you need to take a college world history class. India still has a caste system. To say they have money is BS. I’m American and been to other places but we think our morels are better. They have people in some of these countries they call untouchables. Witch means you don’t even touch or talk to them They are below dirt poor. We judge things like the whole would is the good ole USA or the European Union and it’s not.I think the bears need to be protected but I will defend a man or woman in another country with different values trying to feed his family. I have to pets and would make them wear a nose ring.

the link above will help some of you westerners. I’m in college taking History as a minor and even in class I hear bigots trashing muslims and other cultures. I served in the cost guard and I’ve seen what people have done from other places just to survive. To get the next meal. To make sure the family is feed. People sit in a cubicle and judge. I’m glad this article was posted because I saw this on MSN. But as always when people are able to leave post they don’t know crap.

The post by emy on July 13 says it all. Calling these people jerks when you don’t know them. Get a clue not every country is America. I think most of you make me more mad than the people making the bear dance. It seems to me once they’re educated and are able to find work they stop. Unlike here people drink and get drunk and drive and kill people but it’s not murder but manslaughter. Maybe we should call our government and have them fix our laws before we cast stones.